HC declines to hear plea challenging broadcast policy

Star Online Report

A vacation bench of High Court today declined to hear a writ petition challenging the legality of the newly formulated National Broadcast Policy.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman dropped the petition from its hearing list, saying that the petition is premature as no law is yet to be formulated over the broadcast policy.

The bench also advised the petitioner Advocate Eunus Ali Akond to move the petition before another HC bench after its 37-day vacation ends.

Eunus Ali told The Daily Star that he will move the petition before a regular HC bench after it reopens on August 31.

The petition was filed with the HC on August 18, saying the National Broadcast Policy 2014 has curtailed the freedom of the press and the fundamental rights of people.

In his petition, Eunus Ali has sought a stay order from the court on the effectiveness of the policy.

The cabinet approved the policy on August 4 and issued a gazette notification to this effect three days later amid strong criticism against the policy from different quarters.